Pile-driver



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. E W. H. BLAIR.

PILE DRIVER.

No. 433,929. Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

(No 'Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. H. BLAIR. PILE DRIVER No. 433,929. Patented Aug.'12, 1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. H.- BLAIR. PILE DRIVER.

No. 433,929. Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

, 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W.'H. BLAIR.

PILE DRIVER.

No. 433,929. Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

lVILLlAM H. BLAIR, OF JANESVILLE, \VISCONSIN.

PlLE-DRIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,929, dated August 12, 1890.

Application-filed March 5, 1890. Serial No. 342,763. (No model.)

and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pile-Drivers;

and Ido hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention relates to an improvementin machines for driving posts, piles, &c., and is designed more particularly for driving fenceposts, the object being to produce a machine for driving posts which shall be of simple construction and effective in operation.

A further object is to so construct the machine that it may be placed upon and operated from a wagon.

A further object is to construct a pile or post driving machine in such a manner that the uprights which carry the hammer can be adjusted relatively to the ground, so as to be maintained in a vertical position relatively thereto.

Vith these objects in View the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a rear view. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are views of certain details.

A A represent the side-boards of a wagon on which my improved post-driver may be supported, a recess being made in one end of each side-board for the reception of the ends of a front cross-bar B. Bolts 1) are passed through the side-board and cross-bars B, as shown in Fig. 9, to secure these parts together. The rear cross-bar B extends at its ends beyond the side-boards A, forapurpose hereinafter explained.

Comprising a portion of the base of the machine are two timbers O C, disposed at an angle to each other, as shown in Fig. 1, the rear ends of the timbers 0 being inserted in the angle formed by the cross-bar B and said boards A at each side of the wagon, and bolts 1) are passed through the side-boards and timbers O, and other bolts 12 are passed through the ends of the timbers O and crossbar B, as shown in Fig. 7. The forward ends of the timbers C extend beyond the cross-barB, and are secured to said-cross-bar by means of suit-able bolts. At or near the free ends of the timbers C said timbers are made convex on their inner faces, and to these convex ends of the timbers 0 two parallel uprights D are bolted by means of bolts ac, the holes through which said bolts pass being made sufficiently large, as shown in Fig. 10, to permit the uprights D to be capable of an oscillating movement on the bolts 00, and countersinks y are preferably made in the outer faces of the uprights D for the reception of the heads of the bolts 00. The uprights are pivotally connected together at their ends by means of a cross-bar E, having slots in its ends to receive the ends of the uprights, said slots having convex walls at their inner ends, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that the uprights may turn on their pivotal connection with the cross-bar.

Connected-by means of double hinges to the uprights D D are brace-timbers F F, the brace F being hinged at a higher point than the brace F, so that said braces may be crossed, as shown in Fig. 3, without confiictwith each other.

The hinges F, by means of which the braces are connected to the uprights, are preferably made so that they will be capable of turning in either direction. A simple manner of making such hinges is shown in Fig. 5. A piece of any suitable metal is provided at one end with a loop or opening 0 and se cured to each brace F F. The other leaf of the hinge is provided with a pintle c to enter the loop 0, and maybe pivotally connected to the uprights D D by means of suitable bolts cl, upon which the braces are capable of swinging, washers (1 being secured between the hinge and the upright to protect the upright from abrasion by the action of the double hinge, which is either on the pintle c or on bolt cl. The brace-timbers F F are The weighted arms G are provided at or near one end with loops G, through which the bracetimbersF Fare adapted to pass, the weighted ends G of the arms projecting at an angle from the timbers F F, and thus serve to clamp or grip said timbers in the loops G.

Projecting from the rear end of each arm G is a flange or ear H, having a curved outer face H a bolt-hole H and a countersunk portion II for the reception of the head of a bolt I. By means of these bolts each weighted arm is secured to the flange J of a bracket H, secured at the ends of the cross-bar B. The flange J is preferably curved in a direction opposite to the curvature of the outer face of the flange H of arm G. The object in constructing the flanges I'IJ and connecting them together, as above set forth, is to permit the frame to swing when it is being adjusted to the desired angle relatively to the ground, and at the same time produce a firm connection of the parts.

Located in the space between the uprights D is a Weight K, having grooved flanges K, adapted to loosely embrace the uprights. A sheaf L is suspended from the cross-bar E and provided with pulleys M. A rope or chain N is passed over these pulleys and attached to the weight K. Thus a drop-hammer is produced, and is operated in the usual manner.

Assuming now that it is desired to drive a post on a hillside, the uprights D D are made to assume a vertical position relatively to the ground, the brace-timbers F F being permitted to slide freely through the loops G, on arms G. WVhen the uprights are in the desired positions, the weighted arms Will cause the brace-timbers F F to be gripped or clamped in the loops or collars G, and the uprights will be maintained in the desired position. Thus it will be seen that the Weighted arms and loops or collars produce in effect weighted clamps, which are automatic in their operation. The uprights having been secured in a vertical position, as above explained, a post is inserted between them, as shown in Fig. 3, and the drop-hammer operated in the usual manner, to drive it into the ground.

It is of course to be understood that my improved machine may be mounted on a set of wheels, instead of upon a wagon, as above double hinges, said brace-timbers being adjustably connected at their lower ends to the base-frame, and a drop-hammer, substantially as set forth.

2, In a pile-driver, the combination, with a base-frame, of parallel uprights adj ustably attached thereto, brace-timbers hinged at their upper ends to the uprights, weighted clamping devices adj ustably attached to the bracetimbers and secured to the base-frame, and a drop-hammer, substantially as set forth.

3. In a pile-driver, the combination, with the base-frame,of parallel uprights adj ustably attached thereto, brace-timbers hinged to the uprights, weighted arms having loops through which the brace-timbers pass, and a flange on said weighted arms, said flanges being seen red to the base-frame, substantially as set forth.

4.,In a pile-driver, the combination, with a base-frame, of parallel uprights adj ustably attached thereto, brace-timbers hinged at their upper ends to the uprights, weighted arms having loops through which the bracetimbers pass, a flange having a curved face projecting from the weighted arm, a bracket having a curved flange secured to the base-frame, said flanges being secured together, and a drop-hammer, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. BLAIR.

YVitn esses:

D. CONGER, ED. INMAN. 

